the sun – our star

The Sun – Our Star

General Properties

• Average star

• Central (core) temperature = 15 million K

• 333,000 times Earth’s mass

• 109 times Earth’s diameter

• Consists entirely of gas (av. density = 1.4 g/cm3)

• Only appears so bright because it is so close.

• Spectral type G2

• Surface temperature = 5800 K

Very Important Warning:

Never look directly at the sun through

a telescope or binoculars!!!

This can cause permanent eye damage – even blindness.

Use a projection technique or a special sun viewing filter.

• Apparent surface layer of the sun

The Photosphere

The solar corona

• Depth ≈ 500 km• Temperature ≈ 5800 oK

• Absorbs and re-emits radiation produced in the solar interior

The Chromosphere

Chromospheric structures

• Region of sun’s atmosphere just above the photosphere.• Visible, UV, and X-ray lines from highly ionized gases

• Temperature increases gradually from ≈ 4500 oK to ≈ 10,000 oK, then jumps to ≈ 1 million oK

Transition region

Filaments

The Layers of the Solar Atmosphere

Visible

Photosphere

Ultraviolet

Chromosphere

Coronal activity, seen in visible

light

Corona

Sun Spot Regions

The Magnetic Carpet of the Corona• Corona contains very low-density, very hot (1 million oK) gas

• Coronal gas is heated through motions of magnetic fields anchored in the photosphere below (“magnetic carpet”)

Computer model of the magnetic carpet

The Solar Wind

Constant flow of particles from the sun.Velocity ≈ 300 – 800 km/s

Þ Sun is constantly losing mass:

107 tons/year

(≈ 10-14 of its mass per year)

Sun Spots

Cooler regions of the photosphere (T ≈ 4240 K).

Only appear dark against the bright sun. Would still be brighter

than the full moon when placed on the night sky!

Face of the Sun

Solar Activity, seen in soft X-rays

Eruptive Prominences

(Ultraviolet images)

Extreme events (solar flares) can significantly influence Earth’s magnetic field structure.

Coronal Holes

X-ray images of the sun reveal coronal holes.

These are the origin of the solar wind.